Slicing machine



Mareh 27, 1934. w. J. CAMPBELL 1,952,838

sLIcING MACHINE Filed oct. 28, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 27, 1934. w,J, QAMPBELL.v

SLICING MACHINE Filed Oot.- 28. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #Hof/@y1 PatentedMar. 27, 1934 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICING MACHINE 'Applicationoctober 2s, 1929, serial No. 402,880

11 claims. (o1. 14s-102) My invention relates to a slicing machine andis particularly applicable to slicing machines of the type in which acircular knife is rotated by a power source, for example, an electricmotor. One object of my invention is the provision of effective scrapingmeans for scraping lard, grease, juices and particles from the face ofthe knife. Another object is the provision of scraping means effectivefor the rear of the knife. Ano-ther object is the provision of improvedguard means for the rear of the knife. Another object is the provisionof an improved slice support for supporting the work and the sliceadjacent the actual cutting zone. Other objects will appear from time totime in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein-i v Figure l is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is a partial horizontal section;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of part of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 'l is a perspective view of the slice or work supporting element.

Like parts are indicated. by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings. Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates anysuitable base, mounted for example upon the pads A1. Mounted upon saidbase is any suitable motor B with the motor shaft B1 and the pulley B2driving the belt B3 which passes about the pulley B1, the knife shaft B5and thereby rotates the circular knife B6.

Referring for example to Figures 1, 2 and 3 a guard plate C ispositioned forwardly of the knife B6 and is provided with an arcuateedge portion Cl penetrating the front aperture B7 of the knife. It willbe understood that the knife axis lies in a horizontal plane, but issomewhat tilted, in order to bring the cutting arc of the knife into orforwardly of the plane of the guard plateC. Exposed exteriorly of thearcuate edge C1 of the plate C is the forward and generally -flat frontface B8 of the knife. Mounted upon the base o r frame A is a scrapersupport generally-indicated as C2. One end thereof is apertured as at C3C3 to receive the securing screws C1 C4, whereby the support is securedto the base or frame. Associated therewith is the lateral extension C5which terminates in a boss C6 having the convex ball surface C". Opposedto this ball surface is the concave ball portion C8 of the scraperelement C15. C9 is a clamping washer and C1o a screw adapted to securethe washer against the scraper C15 and to clamp the assembly together.It will be seen, as in Figure 2, that the member C11 is provided with acentral aperture C11 of substantially greater diameter than the diameterof the screw C10, whereby universal adjustment of the scraper C15 inrelation to the boss C6 is permitted, within the limits of the relativesizes of the screw and aperture. C12 indicates the scraper vbladepreferably more exible, or of lighter gauge than the scraper member C15.Y It is the element C12 which actually engages the face B8 of theknife,`and its great flexibility and its narrow width permit it toconform accurately and quickly to the vibrations of the knife and to theirregularities of the knife surface. C13 indicates a strengthening'ribof the member C2 and C1l1 an aperture. l

The guard plate C is adjustably mounted on the base or frame A of theslicing machine in the following manner. Adjustable abutments D, withits screwthrealed stems D1, are screwthreaded into the frame as at D2.D3 indicates any suitable lock nut, whereby the member D may be set atany desired adjustment. The member D is screwthreaded as at D1 toreceive the screw stem D5, controlled by the knurled thumb handle D6,whereby the guard plate C is held against the abutment D. D7 D7 indicateany suitable washers which may be of flexible or resilient material.Note that one of the abutments D is in line with and passes through theaperture C14 of the member C2.

E indicates a gauge plate mounted upon the supporting structure E1. Itwill be understood that any suitable means may be employed for movingthe gauge plate and supporting structure toward and'away from thecutting plane of the knife. interposed between the gauge plate E and itssupport E1 is the knife edge guard generally indicated as E2 whichincludes the plane portion E3, through which may pass the securingscrews E1. Projecting rearwardly from the cutting plane and inwardlytoward the knife axis is the guard portion proper generally indicated asE5 and provided with the bent or rolled back lower corner E6.

G generally indicates a work supporting VcarriageVV traveling on thetracks K K1 which guide it along a path past the cutting edge-and acrossthe face of the guard plate C. Its inner edge G1 is somewhat spaced awayfrom the gauge plate, as shown in Figure 5 and in order to bridge thegap between it and the gauge plate, which is increased as the gaugeplate is rearwardly withdrawn from the cutting plane, I provide a workand slice support G2, which underlies the lower edge of the gauge plate.I find it desirable to form anelevation above the normal level of thesupport G2, adjacent the actual cutting edge of the knife. I indicatethis member, for example in Figure '2, as at G3. The portion G0 is inthat figure indicated as forming part of a separate block or piece G4,the forward edge as at G5, conforming to the cutting arc of the knife.It will be understood, however, that I do not wish to be limited to anyspecific form or means of assembly of such device. To the rear of thehump or projection G3 the member G2 is milled down or recessed `orconcaved as at G15, this milled-out portion providing a downwardly andrearwardly more or less rounded surface or clearance zone for the loweredges of the slices as they are severed from the work by the knife anddischarged, over the member G2, to the rear of the knife. The member G2is further recessed, as at G5 in order to receive the lower edge G2 ofthe scraper G7 which conforms generally to the rear face of the knife.It will be seen, as in Figure d that the forward or actual scraping edgeG9 of the member G7 contacts the top of the support G2 at a point withinthe periphery of the knife. In the form of knife herein shown theexposed rear face is concave, the edge G0 being more or less arcuatelyformed in orer to conform to it. rIhis concavity of the knife is shownin Figure 6 as atBg. The member G7 is indicated as adjustable, it beingprovided with a portion G10 opposed to the upward extension G11 of theframe A. The portion G10 is provided with slots or apertures G12 toreceive the screws G13. rlJhe apertures are of greater diameter than thestems of the screws, to permit adjustment. The upward projection G11from the frame is indicated as extending into the rear cavity B10 of theknife, as shown in Figure 6. Y K

C20 indicates an outward extension or offset at the bottom of the plateC which extends outwardly above or overlies the scraper C15.

Underlying the knife and the two scrapers is any suitable drip pan,shown for example in Figure 5, and indicated as I'I. This pan isremovable and is shown as masked by the slice receiving element H1. Inthe form herein shown, the slice receiving element I-Il may be removedto give access to the member H, which may then be lifted upwardly out ofthe base of the slicing machine. It will be understood that the frame iscut away above it to permit material scraped olf by the scraping edgesG0 or C12 to drop downwardly therein.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in thesize, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from thespirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather thanas limiting' me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

One of the major problems of a slicing machine of the type herein shown,is to clear from the cutting edge the fragments of material, grease,

lard, juices and the like, which tend to gather on the knife as it isrotated rapidly through the work being sliced. For example, in slicingham or bacon, the frictional heat tends to cause larding or trying outof the grease. If this lard is permitted to adhere to the knife it willbe carried with the knife into the interior housing of the slicingmachine and may be there discharged centrifugally. The result, apartfrom damage to the transmission, is the gathering of material whichrapidly causes an unsam'tary condition unless removed. This creates aconstant and difficult cleaning problem, if the material is permitted topass into the interior of the housing.

In order to clear the material from the front of the knife I provide thescraper illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3. The universal or balland socket adjustment therein shown, including the boss C5, permits theadjustment of the scraper edge C12 toward and away from the knife andalso permits it to be adjusted up and down in the general plane of theknife. I nd it advantageous to support this scraper independently of theguard plate C for several reasons. In the rst place, if it were placedon the guard plate C, it would be likely to be damaged when the guardplate is removed, or would add to the danger of handling the guardplate. In the second place, every time the guard plate were removed theadjustment of the scraper would be likely tc be disturbed. I thereforemount the scraper upon the scraper support C2 which, in turn, may bedirectly screwed to the base or frame of the slicing machine.

I have apertured the member C2, as at C14, in such fashion that it doesnot interfere with the supporting means for the plate C. Whatever lardor refuse is scraped from the front portion B8 of the knife drops intothe pan H. The guard plate C itself protects a great body of the knifefrom contact with the work and, since it seats in the front recess ofthe knife, there is very little tendency of the material to travelinwardly within the periphery of the arcuate edge C1 of the plate.

The `offset portion C10 serves as a species of overhang or protectionfor the knife or scraper C15.

In clearing material from the rear of the knife I employ the scrapergenerally indicated as G1, the arcuate edge G0 of which engages thehollow round rear face B9 of the knife. It also discharges the materialwhich it scrapes into the receiver I-I. Its lower edge enters the recessG0 of the member G2 and the member G2 is itself so closely approached tothe knife face, as shown in Figure 6, as to serve as an additional orsupplemental scraping means.

The projection G3, by raising up the edge of the work, and by supportingthe slice at the point of severance, reduces the tendency of the work tobe dragged with the knife edge and face. This reduces the heat generatedas a result of frictional contact, and therefore reduces the tendencyfor fat meats, like ham or bacon, to deposit lard or grease on the kife.The milledaway portion G15 makes the escape of the slice over the edgeof the member G2 easier and quicker.

The rear guard E5, which cverlies the cutting edge from the rear, isoutwardly bent as at E5, to provide ample clearance for the slices asthey pass rearwardly to the receiving element H1.

I claim:

1. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it,a work carriage and means for guiding said carriage across the face andpast the cutting arc of the knife, a guard plate positioned forwardly ofsaid knife lying in a plane generally parallel with the path of movementof said carriage, and a scraper opposed to the edge portion of theknife, said scraper being mounted independently of said guard plate, theguard plate being provided with an oifset portion extending outwardlyabove said scraper.

2. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it,a work carriage and means for guiding said carriage across the face andpast the cutting arc of the knife, a gauge plate lying in a planegenerally parallel with the path of movement of the carriage, a slicesupport adjacent the edge of the carriage, the top of said slice supportlying in a plane generally parallel with the top of the carriage andextending both forwardly and rearwardly of the cutting plane, an upwardprojection from said support adjacent the cutting edge of the knife anda scraper opposed to the peripheral portion of the rear face of saidknife the bottom of said scraper extending to a level lower than, andbeing masked by said upward projection.

3. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it,a work carriage, a gauge plate, a slice support adjacent the edge of thecarriage, said slice support extending within the periphery of theknife, and a scraper opposed to the peripheral portion of the rear faceof said knife, said scraper overlying said slice support.

4. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it,a work carriage, a gauge plate, a slice support adjacent the edge of thecarriage, said slice support extending within the periphery of theknife, and a scraper opposed to the peripheral portion of the rear faceof said knife, said scraper overlying said slice support, the slicesupport being recessed to receive it.

5. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it,a work carriage, a gauge plate, a slice support adjacent the edge of thecarriage, said slice support extending within the periphery of theknife, and a scraper opposed to the peripheral portion of the rear faceof said knife, said scraper overlying said slice support, a guard,associated with the gauge plate, extending outwardly and rearwardly fromthe edge of the gauge plate and being adapted to overlie the edge of theknife at all normal positions of the gauge plate.

6. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it,a work carriage, a gauge plate, a slice support adjacent the edge of thecarriage, said slice support extending within the periphery of theknife, and a scraper opposed to the peripheral portion of the rear faceof said knife, said scraper overlying said slice support, a guard,associated with the gauge plate, extending outwardly and rearwardly fromthe edge of the gauge plate and being adapted to overlie the edge of theknife at all normal positions of the gauge plate, the portion of saidguard adjacent said scraper being outwardly ared away from said scraper.

7. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it,a work carriage, a gauge plate, a scraper opposed to the peripheralportion of the rear face of said knife, a guard, associated with thegauge plate, extending outwardly and rearwardly from the edge of thegauge plate, and being adapted to overlie the edge of the knife at allnormal positions of the gauge plate, the portion of said guard adjacentsaid scraper being outwardly flared away from said scraper.

8. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it,a work carriage, a slice support adjacent the edge of the carriage, saidslice support extending within the periphery of the knife, and a scraperopposed to the peripheral portion of the rear face of said knife, saidslice support being recessed to receive an edge of said scraper.

9. The structure of claim 8 characterized in that the intersection ofthe scraping edge of said scraper with said slice support is within theperiphery of the knife.

10. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotatingit, a work carriage, a gauge plate, a guard, associated with the gaugeplate, extending outwardly and rearwardly from the edge of the gaugeplate, and being adapted to overlie the edge of the knife at all normalpositions of -the gauge plate, the lower portion of said guard, adjacentthe lower edge of the gauge plate, being outwardly flared in excess ofthe flare of the rest of said guard.

l1. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotatingit, a work carriage, and a slice support adjacent the edge of thecarriage, extending within the periphery of the knife, said slicesupport having a generally horizontal upper surface and being formed,near its opposition to the cutting edge of the knife, with a hollowextending downwardly and rearwardly away from the cutting plane andbelow the normal plane of the top of said support, and a scraper opposedto the rear face of said knife, said scraper overlying the ltop of saidslice support and engaging said slice support adjacent said hollow.

WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL.

